Day 28

 Wednesday May 22

The weather forecast was not good and our weather certainly changed, no sun with a strong north-westerly wind. Only 11C too.

As has become the norm,  the moth trap was opened before going out.  Twenty three moths of twelve species. Again, low numbers, but at least one new species every day.

Poplar Hawkmoth, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Diamond-back  and - our first ever trapped by us - Map-winged Swift. I've seen one before, brought to a Weeting event by a young man who'd trapped it in South Wales.

 


Hoping that no-one had run their lorry off the road, we set off for Berneray. 

Two seals and a Great Northern Diver from the watchpoint, a Rock Pipit decided to use the information plaque directly ahead of us as a take-off post.  

 


Very few birds on the machair, it was interesting to see that there were already potato leaves showing above the furrows. I know that Berneray is noted for its potatoes but have never seen evidence of that. All the warm weather I expect. We ended at our favourite North Beach, on the clifftop looking over the Sound of Harris to the islands of Harris and Lewis. The wind was so strong that I couldn't get my door open to bring in my telescope. The usual small waders and Little Terns on the beach, an occasional Gannet out at sea.

We stopped at the Seal Watchpoint for another scan and I picked up an Arctic Skua flying through. We saw another as we left Committee Road on the way home. A Golden Eagle and two Ravens were the other highlights of the day.

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